6 Days Wildebeest Migration safari

Overview

What is the Great Migration?

The Great Migration is the largest herd movement of animals on the planet. In fact, with up to 1,000 animals per km², the great columns of wildebeest can be seen from space.

The numbers are astonishing: over 1,2 million wildebeest and 300 000 zebra along with topi and other gazelle move in a constant cycle through the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem in search of nutritious grass and water. Guided by survival instinct, each wildebeest will cover 800 to 1,000km on its individual journey along age-old migration routes. Hungry predators – lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena, wild dog and crocs – make sure only the strongest survive.

It is thought that rainfall over 50km away can trigger the start of the mass movement – perhaps through smell or the recognition of thunder and lightning on the horizon. The circuit takes the animals from the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (although not into the Crater itself) in the south of the Serengeti in Tanzania, up through the Serengeti and across into the Masai Mara in Kenya, and back again. The journey is beset with danger: young calves are snatched by predators, the slow are brought down by prides of lion, brave beasts break legs on steep river slopes, crocodiles take their share of the stragglers, and the weak and exhausted drown.

The Serengeti from November to May

Where to see the Great Migration

The backdrop of this dramatic spectacle is the Greater Serengeti-Mara Ecosystem – an area that covers both Kenya and Tanzania.

The northernmost reaches of the great migration’s circuitous route crosses the Masai Mara in Kenya before heading southwards through the Serengeti in Tanzania, as far south as to border on the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

Northern Serengeti & Masai Mara

Mid-June to November

Northern Serengeti, Tanzania

From mid-June to November, the great herds of wildebeest gather on the banks of the Mara River in the Northern Serengeti, ready to brave the crocodile-infested waters and hungry predators on the other side. Dramatic, exciting and chaotic game viewing awaits as the wildebeest thunder across in their millions and the northern Serengeti is transformed into a pulsing hub of activity.

Eastern & Southern Serengeti

December to March

Eastern Serengeti, Tanzania

Just like the south, the rains bring new life to the Eastern (Namiri) Plains of the Serengeti and the dry savannah is transformed into a carpet of fresh, green grass, drawing the great herds of wildebeest. The plains become the centre stage for explosive action as big cats feast on the hundreds of thousands of wildebeest that stretch as far as the eye can see.

Southern Serengeti and Ndutu, Tanzania
The vast grassland plains of the Southern Serengeti are the favoured birthing grounds of the migrating wildebeest. With the new addition of vulnerable calves, predators such as lion, leopard, and cheetah are not far behind to profit from the numerous newborns.

The herds and calves move as far south as the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (but not within the Crater itself) to graze on the lush new grass of the plains.

Summary

Map

Your day by day trip

Day 0: Arrival Arusha

You will be picked up from Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred by vehicle to Arusha for your dinner and overnight at Tulia lodge before your Serengeti wildebeest Migration safari big adventure starts

Day 1 – Arusha – Ngorongoro

Pick up from Arusha and transfer to the Ngorongoro Conservation area. We arrive in time for lunch at the lodge and after lunch we will descend over 600 meters into the crater to view wildlife for an afternoon safari tour.Supported by a year round water supply and fodder, the Ngorongoro National Park supports a vast variety of animals, which include herds of wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, eland, warthog, hippo, and giant African elephants. Another big draw card to this picturesque national park, is it’s dense population of predators, which include lions, hyenas, jackals, cheetahs and the ever-elusive leopard, which sometimes requires a trained eye to spot. We will visit Lake Magadi, a large but shallow alkaline lake in the south western corner, which is one of the main features of the crater. A large number of flamingos, hippos and other water birds can usually been seen here.Dinner and overnight Ngorongoro Tortilis Camp

Day 2 – Ngorongoro – Central Serengeti

Non game-viewing travel time: 5 hours
Distance: 145 km
After breakfast we will head towards the Serengeti National Park, leaving the highlands behind, we descend into the heart of wild Africa – the Serengeti National Park – with its endless plains, rolling into the distance as far as the eye can see. We head to the Seronera area, one of the richest wildlife habitats in the park, featuring the Seronera River, which provides a valuable water source to this area and therefore attracts wildlife well representative of most of the Serengeti’s species. We enjoy a game drive en-route to the lodge.
We arrive in time for lunch and enjoy an afternoon game drive in the Serengeti national park.
Dinner and overnight at Serengeti Bush Camp

Day 3: Explore 

Be one of only a few fortunate people to glide in a Hot Air Balloon over the Serengeti Plains (available at supplementary cost by per-arrangement). Floating silently above the awakening bush, while spotting wildlife and enjoying the amazing scenery of Africa, across rivers and over numerous small villages.
After breakfast, enjoy a full day game drive in the Serengeti National Park. The wildebeest migration normally pass through the area in April & May, however the Seronera area is within reach of both the southern plains and the Western Corridor. The resident game in the area is phenomenal and species such as elephant, buffalo, gazelle, zebra, lion and a variety of other predators and herbivores can be seen here all year round.
Explore the range of different habitats that include swamps, woodland, soda lakes and the world famous Serengeti short grass plains. See great herds of wildebeest and zebra. During a short time frame around February, normally lasting for about 3 weeks, the majority of the wildebeest calve. The sea of grass provides little cover and the young are easy pickings for a variety of predators. Wildebeest calves can run minutes after they are born and within 3 days they are normally strong enough to keep up with the herd.Dinner and overnight at Serengeti bush camp

Day 4 – Central Serengeti – Western Serengeti

After breakfast we head towards the western reaches of the Serengeti National Park, also known as the Western Corridor. We will do a game drive en-route from the Seronera area to the Western Corridor area.
We arrive in time for lunch at the lodge and after lunch will we enjoy an afternoon game drive in the area. The wildebeest migration can normally be found in the Western Corridor area in June, depending on rainfall patterns.
Dinner and overnight in the Western Corridor area, at Serengeti Tortilis Camp

Day 5 – Western Serengeti 

After breakfast enjoy a full day game drive in the Western Corridor. The key feature in the Western Corridor is the Grumeti and Mbalageti rivers, running almost parallel to each other, each support a band of evergreen forest. The rivers sustain a permanent game population of zebra, wildebeest, all the predators and birdlife. It is also possible to find large pods of hippo’s and huge crocodiles in the Grumeti River. The wildebeest normally gather around waterholes midmorning in such densities, that they look like ants swarming around a nest. Dinner and overnight at Serengeti Tortilis Camp

Day 6 – Western Serengeti – Arusha

After breakfast at the camp we will drive to Arusha via Ngorongoro Conservation Area to explore the masai boma and other areas on arrival in Arusha will we have lunch and then we will end our African safari adventure. You will be taken to your hotel, which ends our Safari.

What’s not included

Useful tips

• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Adult pricing applies to all travelers 12 years old and up
• Please arrive at the meeting point 15 minutes early Latecomers will not be reimbursed